Public bodies play an important role in the delivery of public services in Scotland. Their functions range from health and social care to the arts, culture and the built environment.

We provide funding to public bodies to promote, deliver, fund and scrutinise public services, or to provide impartial expert advice to Ministers, the Parliament, the public and other organisations that deliver public services.

Public bodies contribute to delivering the National Outcomes set out in the National Performance Framework, and carry out statutory, regulatory and advisory functions at arm's length from central government.

Background

Public bodies are one type of organisation within Scotland's devolved public sector, which collectively includes the police, fire and health services, local government, and others.

A public body is an organisation for which either the Scottish Government or Scottish Parliament is responsible and with whom they have a direct relationship. Not all public sector bodies share the same relationship with government, or operate within the same public bodies framework.